Natural Resource Specialist I/II/III (Open and Promotional)

The Department of Parks is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Natural Resource Specialist I/II/III to join our team! A key part of the Natural Resource Specialist’s role will be to plan and coordinate fuels reduction projects throughout the county park system. Working with a team of highly skilled Natural Resource professional, the Natural Resource Specialist will have the opportunity to:

• Develop, implement, coordinate, promote, monitor, and evaluate one or more natural resource conservation programs or projects.
• Serve as subject matter expert and resource on topics related to natural resource management including ecology, forestry, wildlife biology, environmental science, and related topics.
• Research, analyze, and interpret information and data.
• Design and conduct studies.
• Develop, conduct, monitor, and evaluate comprehensive outreach and public education activities.
• Provide supervision and leadership on a project basis to professional, technical, support, contract, and volunteer staff.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops, implements, coordinates, monitors, manages, and evaluates many vegetation management and habitat restoration projects.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for invasive species control, vegetation management techniques, and integrated pest management for the department, the County, external agencies, businesses, community groups and staff.
• Collects spatial data relating to native and non-native plant occurrences and vegetation management work and trains staff, contractors, and other partners in proper collection protocols.
• Manages vegetation management and plant occurrence databases for County Parks.
• Analyzes spatial data needs of the department using GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, ArcGIS Online).
• Create high-quality maps using GIS for Natural Resource Management projects and other departmental needs.
• Conducts small-scale herbicide applications through the possession of a qualified applicators license (QAL) and teaches and oversees staff and contractors on appropriate control methods.
• Coordinates with a Pesticide Control Advisor to obtain Pesticide Control Recommendations for the department.
• Supervise seasonal employees and train them in vegetation identification, vegetation mapping, non-native plant control techniques, including manual, mechanical, and chemical techniques.
• Organize meetings and schedules for vegetation management contractors, seasonal employees, and communicate this effectively to other natural resource management staff, volunteer staff, interpretive staff, ranger staff, and administrative staff.
• Reviews scientific permit applications for research in County Parks and administers and writes pertinent natural resource protection guidelines for permits.
• Reviews and provides comments on various technical and environmental documents, including environmental impact reports, initial study/mitigated negative declaration, mitigation plans, and biological assessments.
• Develops, prepares, negotiates, and monitors grants; ensures compliance with grant stipulations and funding agency reporting requirements.
• Prepares written materials such as permit applications, narrative and annual reports, technical charts, and publications.
• Maintains environmental regulatory compliance and monitoring required by permits and project activities.
• Research evolving Best Management Practices (BMP’s) utilized within the industry and incorporate these measures into project plans when applicable.
• Develops, conducts, monitors, and evaluates comprehensive outreach, public education, training, and media activities.
• Reviews consultant deliverables and invoices to ensure compliance with contract stipulations, permits, and County standards.
• Represents the Parks Natural Resource Management division on committees, boards, and other related groups.
• Participates in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for new and existing programs.
• Manages vegetation management budgets, including tracking invoices and staying apprised of available funds.
• Provides management with information related to developing and monitoring budgets.
• Stays abreast of new trends, laws, regulations, and innovations in the related fields of natural resource conservation, environmental compliance, and permitting.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of program planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of contract management.
• Principles, practices and trends in the assigned specialty areas of resource conservation.
• Technical information in the assigned specialty areas such as wildlife management, biology/botany, ecology, restoration, forestry, and marine biology.
Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

• Plan, implement and evaluate assigned programs, projects and activities.
• Coordinate multiple functions and contracts.
• Supervise permanent, temporary, contract and volunteer staff on a project basis.
• Serve as subject matter expert in assigned areas.
• Work with a wide variety of people at all levels, including those from government, business, private and non-profit agencies, community groups and the public.
• Identify problems and resolve them.
• Track and monitor compliance with pertinent mandates, laws, codes, rules, regulations and agreements.
• Develop and conduct outreach, public education, training and media activities.
• Research and analyze information/data to formulate findings and recommendations.
• Serve as representative on various boards, committees and community groups.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, letters and other written materials.
• Provide information in regard to planning, developing and monitoring the budget.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with others.
• Perform instant and sustained arduous physical activity and work in rough, brushy terrain and in adverse weather.

Application/Examination

Open and Promotional. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' applications and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) which will include a pre-interview performance exam. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST
Application Screening: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Combined Panel Interviews: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.